Thursday 7th December 2006

European lorries get Brit-o-vision

Trial plots end to side-swiping incidents

---

Can they see you?

A trial of magnifying window lenses to address 'sideswiping' accidents was launched today by road safety minister Stephen Ladyman.

The trial is being conducted by the Highways Agency, the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) and the Immigration Service and will see 40,000 stick-on Fresnel lenses distributed free of charge at three French ports to drivers of left-hand lorries coming into the UK.

Lorries have a blind spot along their passenger side, which can cause them to collide with cars when being overtaken. The Fresnel lenses will offer drivers of left-hand vehicles a wider field of vision through the passenger window, which is expected to cut the number of side-swiping incidents recorded in the south east.

Ladyman said: "Side-swiping is an issue that we are determined to tackle. There were 1,164 sideswipe incidents in 2005. As well as being frightening and dangerous for those involved, such incidents can cause frustration, delays and congestion for other drivers.

"This innovative trial is designed to tell us more about how Fresnel lenses might improve lorry safety. I look forward to seeing the results in the spring."

The lenses will be handed out during December and a report will be published in spring 2007.

 

[scotty_917]

can't we just blockade the ports...you know...have them stacking up outside Calais and the like...see how 'they' get to like it?

[stenniso]

I thought the answer to ALL road safety issues was to use "safety" cameras.

[rpguk]

Can't work out exactly how it'll work, but if it does then good stuff.

Nice to see a road safety campaign which doesn't seem to have an ulterior motive

[alexmckie]

They should be issued free to all these...

Lorries
Buses
Coaches
Campers
Caravaners
Taxi drivers.

Did I forget anybody??

[renny]

It might work as the worst blind spot is fron just behind the front axle to the rear axle of the tractor. The fresnel lens should give a view alongside the cab, but further out than the kerbside mirror.

IAM and others advise drivers not to hang about in the danger zone alongside trucks, especially foreign registered ones. Car drivers need to be aware of this bilnd spot and take some responsibility for their actions as well. It is amazing how, even when driving a UK truck at home how cars assume that you can or will move over to let them on at a slip road.

[oogieboogie]

Pointless giving them to taxi drivers without giving them lessons on how to use a mirror (for other than chatting to fares).
Pointless giving them to women without giving them lessons on how to use a mirror (for other than applying make-up).

I'll get me coat...

[over_the_hill]

Is there a relatively comparable number of incidents involving British right-hookers side swiping vehicles on European roads ?

[willcove]

The blind spot is alongside the cab and underneath the field of view of the mirrors, so these fresnel lenses probably act like fresnel reversing aids to provide a view next to the cab on the passenger side. To be honest, I think that all lorries should have an auxilliary mirror on the passenger side so that the driver can check the passenger side of his cab is clear everywhere there might be conflict with other road users (e.g. roundabouts, junctions, and filter lanes). Perhaps the Eurocrats already have this in the pipeline?

[mk1fan]

over_the_hill said:

Is there a relatively comparable number of incidents involving British right-hookers side swiping vehicles on European roads ?

IIRC it is compulsary for these mirrors to be fitted to British trucks - right hand drive - before they drive on the continent because of the 'problem' of the passenger side blind spot. Seems there is an EU reg that reguires a blind spot mirror to be fitted to 'Foreign' (opposing hand drive) trucks. Our EU partners seem able to enforce this against British trucks. So why are we handing them out for free? Surely all that needs to be done is to loop any left hand drive truck without a suitable mirror straight back onto the return ferry / train?

Great use of tax payers money. Yes they will improve safety but surely we should be enforcing the Regs that state these need to be fitted by the Haulier and not us?

What's next? Your brakes look defective there mate. Here let us fix them for you. And then a wally of a Minsiter claiming huge safety kudos points.

Edited by mk1fan on Thursday 7th December 14:23

Edited by mk1fan on Thursday 7th December 14:25

[nickfrog]

over_the_hill said:

Is there a relatively comparable number of incidents involving British right-hookers side swiping vehicles on European roads ?

I suspect there are very few such incidents because of the much lower density of traffic on the continent and the very low number of British trucks on continental roads. It sounds like a good idea to solve a problem which is mainly due to a minority of European drivers still driving on the left hand side of the road and obviously needing RHD vehicles.

[carl_w]

mk1fan said:

And then a wally of a Minsiter claiming huge safety kudos points.

Congratulations sir. It's many years since I've seen or heard someone use the word "wally" in anger.

[Nostrils]

I am all for foreign vehicles complying with UK rules on driving here, lighting, mirrors etc.

Clearly the commercial companies abroad dont give a monkeys about their drivers in the UK and its the UK that are giving these safety items free of charge. I think the UK government should be TELLING the european union countries to comply or you cannot drive in the UK....especially as more and more accidents include foreign lorries! and as some lorries are 48tons, they are ruining our roads and not contributing to the exchequer....blooming cheek!

[James_N]

willcove said:

The blind spot is alongside the cab and underneath the field of view of the mirrors, so these fresnel lenses probably act like fresnel reversing aids to provide a view next to the cab on the passenger side. To be honest, I think that all lorries should have an auxilliary mirror on the passenger side so that the driver can check the passenger side of his cab is clear everywhere there might be conflict with other road users (e.g. roundabouts, junctions, and filter lanes).

They have kerb mirrors but these dont give a very wide field of vision.

[smallgun]

Why don't we just drive on the same side as the rest of europe. End of problem

[chillidog]

Handing out these safety aids for free is a good idea, if they actually work, but I'm at a loss to understand as to why it isn't a legal requirement for this sort of safety measure to be fitted to *all* LHD lorries in the UK, no matter who owns/operates/drives them.

Oh and this is worth a read:- www.ridedrive.co.uk/tipoffs13.htm
--
Richard

Edited by chillidog on Thursday 7th December 19:18

[rich 36]

Hey, this gives me an idea



If I point my maglight at it enough will it burn the fur off catypething

[a8hex]

smallgun said:

Why don't we just drive on the same side as the rest of europe. End of problem

Why should we want to join in Napoleon's calibration of wiping out the a German army?

So how many millions of people do you think would die in the first few weeks after the change over.
So how many trillions of pounds do you think re-engineering the whole of our road system would cost.
Why bother anyway when in a few years the whole continent will have been bought by India and the law will say everyone should drive on the left again.

[mondeohdear]

mk1fan said:

over_the_hill said:

Is there a relatively comparable number of incidents involving British right-hookers side swiping vehicles on European roads ?

IIRC it is compulsary for these mirrors to be fitted to British trucks - right hand drive - before they drive on the continent because of the 'problem' of the passenger side blind spot. Seems there is an EU reg that reguires a blind spot mirror to be fitted to 'Foreign' (opposing hand drive) trucks. Our EU partners seem able to enforce this against British trucks. So why are we handing them out for free? Surely all that needs to be done is to loop any left hand drive truck without a suitable mirror straight back onto the return ferry / train?

Great use of tax payers money. Yes they will improve safety but surely we should be enforcing the Regs that state these need to be fitted by the Haulier and not us?

What's next? Your brakes look defective there mate. Here let us fix them for you. And then a wally of a Minsiter claiming huge safety kudos points.

Edited by mk1fan on Thursday 7th December 14:23

Edited by mk1fan on Thursday 7th December 14:25

They've got the mirrors - this is a stick on lens to increase the field of vision through the passengers window. A good idea I think and one which makes a lot of sense for the government to do. A couple of pounds to reduce the possibility of a fatality, way better value than speed cameras - but wait, these won't raise any revenue.

[mondeohdear]

smallgun said:

Why don't we just drive on the same side as the rest of europe. End of problem

Go wash your mouth out sir. What would happen if I was driving along on the right hand side of the road when some blaggard pulled a sword on me, I wouldn't be able to defend myself, that's what. I'm no cheese eating surrender monkey willing to drive on the wrong side of the road just to "fit in" with a few Johnny Foreigners.

Yours Sincerely,
Major General Blinkthorpe-Smythe

[Philbes]

chillidog said:

Handing out these safety aids for free is a good idea, if they actually work, but I'm at a loss to understand as to why it isn't a legal requirement for this sort of safety measure to be fitted to *all* LHD lorries in the UK, no matter who owns/operates/drives them.

Oh and this is worth a read:- www.ridedrive.co.uk/tipoffs13.htm
--
Richard

Edited by chillidog on Thursday 7th December 19:18

Good link - I will forward that to family & friends. I have already told my younger daughter, who drives 25,000 miles a year for her job, not to linger alongside trucks and to hang back until she can pass in one 'move'.